Page 79 of Burning Heir

“Serpents?”

She flicked a wave of blonde hair over her shoulder, the ends damp from the sputtering rain. “You’ll have to find out.”

I approached Damien and Emerich near the tree line. Something on his face told me he’d listened to every word between Malachi and me. “So, are we going to the meet?” I asked.

He widened his eyes. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” he said, holding back a grin. “I really do try to give you privacy. Tomorrow, I will teach you more about mind shields. You’ll need the protection during the Bid.”

I leaned back on my heels. “Do I dare ask why?”

“You’re still learning to crawl. You can do more damage concealing a lie than with a sword.”

I shuddered. “Well, at least I have a sword now.”

“And you earned it.”

I showered and changed into a more traditional uniform—a black skirt that fell just above my thighs, paired with tights perfect for the rainy weather that had lingered all afternoon. Damien, however, wore the same button-down shirt from yesterday. Aswe neared the group of students, a strange impulse made me want to pull away.

Their eyes weren’t filled with fear, but something else, something more unsettling, as we approached. Archer and Monty each held a gauntlet, swirling a dark liquor inside. Two other Serpents stood nearby, taking long drags from tightly bound rolls, releasing reddish smoke that curled through the air. The scent was floral, perhaps wild Muddvein—known to calm muscles when inhaled. Malachi, ever the bold one, sipped straight from a bottle of red wine, his eyes lighting up with excitement as they met mine.

I squeezed Damien’s hand, knowing how many voices were in his mind. Malachi wrapped her arms around my neck, shoving the bottle toward my lips, then dragging me out of Damien’s grasp and into the crowd.

I took a sip—mainly because I knew I’d choke if I didn’t swallow. She matched me in every way, right down to the boots. In fact, I might have been wearing hers.

She reached for a drag of the roll, and a plume of copper smoke blew from her nose. “It’s mycris,” she said, “One puff every three months prevents unwanted pregnancies.” She snickered. “Hopefully, you two are being safe.” Her eyes dragged between Damien and me.

“Oh, we haven’t—” I stuttered. But I grabbed the mycris from her fingers and inhaled anyway, leaving a gritty, medicinal texture on my tongue.

Damien’s cheeks flared red. “Severyn, we should just hang out at your dorm.” He reached for me, but scattered light danced low, distracting me. “I don’t really like crowds,” he added with a mutter.

Monty stepped into my line of sight, his gauntlet swirling as he gestured to his drink. “It’s good. Try it. It’s a mix of phoenixtears and rum.” The liquid sloshed as he pressed the rim to my chest, eyes dancing up and down.

“Do not.”It was Archer in my mind, louder down that bond.“…take a drink from Monty Garcia.”

“I’m feeling parched,”I hissed in my mind, catching a clip of his shadows further down.

I grinned at Monty. “Thanks,” I said, sipping the potent liquor. I turned to offer Damien some, but he was gone. I assumed the drunk, rambling thoughts were too much for him.

“I’ve been watching you during combat. You’re a little firecracker, aren’t you?” He chuckled. “First, you’re a Winter, and then you come out of nowhere with a fire quell. I might know who I’m placing my Bid on.” He went for my neval streak, flicking the end with a smile.

Warmth bubbled in my stomach, and it wasn’t my quell. My limbs loosened, and I leaned closer into Monty unexpectedly. “I didn’t know you knew my name.”

A rope of silken daylight bound around my waist, dragging me closer. “It’s only courteous to finish the drink. Tell me why I should choose you at the Serpent Bid?” His lips neared mine, and I was wrapped in a tether of light, warmth billowing from his breath and tickling my flared nostrils. “Better yet, show me,” he purred.

I opened my palm, sparking a single flame. “What did you want to see?” I grabbed the bottle and took a heavy swallow. I knew this was reckless, knew Monty was not a Serpent I cared to impress, but I needed all the bids I could get.

Monty pinned my arms down with his lips close to my ear. “That’s not impressive. I want to see you use only your eyes.”

I felt everyone’s attention on us. Even Archer stared. But that stare was desperate. Primal.

“Fine,” I said. I was up for a challenge. I focused on a tree behind me, forcing my arms at my sides. I swayed back and forth before Monty steadied me, his hands tightened on my hips.

“Careful,” he said, leaning in. “You know nevals are hunted in some areas of Verdonia,” he whispered.

My lips parted with a flick of his wrist, tilting the remainder of the gauntlet down my throat. His intoxicating voice hummed to the cage in my chest, and whatever liquid he poured down my throat forced every muscle in my body to numbness. “I don’t think you’ll last very long in the real world.”

I swallowed hard. “What do you mean—hunted?”

Then Malachi snapped at him, “Monty, you’re going to scare her!”

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